The Great Harlot Church

The Characteristics of the Great Whore
There is little doubt that the “Great Whore” of Revelation 17 depicts the Roman Catholic Church. In this chapter we have a perfect description that exactly matches that of the Papal system.

(i) Kings have committed fornication with her: This symbolises the fact that political powers have always degraded themselves by seeking the blessings of or an audience with the pope, especially in recent years. They think that by receiving the pope’s blessing (politically speaking) that somehow they receive divine approval. Political leaders of all nations and parties will visit him when major events on the international scene are about to occur. Such fornication comes at a price, for such papal blessings usually result in a curse on those nations. The more a country has sought the pope the more darkened and depraved it has become.

(ii) The Harlot is full of the names of blasphemy: Every doctrine and dogma of the Roman Catholic Church dethrones the Lord Jesus Christ is some way. They may use His name but they reject the plain teachings found in the Scriptures regarding salvation, the Christian life, the Lord’s Supper, the Cross, and Heaven and Hell (amongst a multitude of others). The Sacrifice of the Mass is probably the greatest act of blasphemy performed by the Roman Catholic priest every day, for it denies the efficiency of the once for all sacrifice of Christ on the Cross of Calvary. The names of blasphemy is also found in their invoking the assistance of thousands of dead ‘saints’ of the church, and the obvious idolatry involved in it.

(iii) Seven Heads: Scripture is its best commentary for it describes the seven heads as being seven hills upon which the Great Whore sits (:9). Only Rome fulfils this. The Vatican sits upon on of those hills / mountains that the city of Rome is built upon.

(iv) Ten Horns: These are the ten kings (:12) or leaders of the ten nations within Europe, (Scripture will be proven true before the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the existing states within the E.C. will eventually become ten regions with their political representative within the Parliament of Europe). It is of great interest that the E.C. was originally called The Treaty of Rome.

(v) Purple and Scarlet: These are the official colours of the leading men of the Roman Catholic Church (archbishops, bishops, and cardinals).

(vi) Gold, Precious Stones, and Pearls: The Roman Catholic Church is known for its wealth and splendour. The Vatican and the Basilica of St. Peter is evidence of the abundant riches of that church.

(vii) Golden Cup: This cup is full of the abominations and filthiness of her fornication. Those who drink of this cup become some of the most paganised nations and people on earth. The cup is full of idolatry, depravity, and witchcraft. These abominations are open defiance against God. This cup also represents the desire of Rome to bring all nations under her control by offering them blessing, friendship, and protection. The golden cup also speaks of the fact that in Catholic countries her followers believe that they can live as they please as long as they attend Mass and Auricular Confession. The cup of blasphemy may include the idea of the chalice the priest uses during the Mass.

(viii) Mystery: The Roman Catholic Church is in fact a Mystery Religion. Many of her doctrines are called mysteries, such as, the mystery of the mass (transubstantiation). In reality what is spoken of as a mystery is a trick, a deception. The Catechism of the Church (1994) states, “Liturgical catechesis aims to initiate people into the mysteries of Christ (it is ‘mystagogy’) by proceeding from the visible to the invisible, from the ‘sacraments’ to the ‘mysteries’” (page 246).

(ix) Babylon the Great: The word “mystery” neatly ties in with Babylon. The Babylonian Religion was one of mysteries. Everything the Roman Catholic Church teaches is beyond the plain understanding of the word of God so therefore are called mysteries. Rather than being a Christian denomination the Church of Rome is actually a Christianised version of the religion of ancient Babylon. Under the veneer of Christianity lies a mixture of paganism and Babylonian Mystery Cultism.

(x) Mother of Harlots: The Roman Catholic Church is actually not a single entity, but is made up of thousands of groups that usually started up in opposition to the worldliness of Rome but have been incorporated into the system. Amongst these are the Franciscans, Dominicans, Liberation Theology, Opus Dei, and the various ‘Mary’ cults within the church. Today we are seeing other breakaway groups coming back under her skirts, i.e. the Lutherans and other apostate Protestant churches. The children of the harlot have committed the greatest atrocities through Church history, i.e. The Inquisitions, the Vatican’s involvement in the Wars, Ireland, Serbia, child abuse. Each of the Harlot’s children will do whatever their Mother Church tells them.

(xi) Drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Christ: The pope of Rome has his hands stained with the blood of the countless millions of souls his church has slaughtered throughout the centuries. He has hated all that desire to live unto God according to the truth of the Scriptures. The Inquisitions are perfect examples of the evil within the system. One only has to read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs to see what power is really in control of the papacy, and what depravity the church has stooped to.

The Titles of the pope

1… Holy Father.

This title of the pope is blasphemous on at least three levels:- [i] There is none holy but God (1 Samuel 2:2). [ii] Father, Jesus commanded that we call no man our father in a religious sense (Matthew 23:9). [iii] Holy Father, this title belongs solely to God the Father since it was used by the Lord Jesus Christ in one of His prayers (John 17:11).

2… Supreme Pontiff.

The dictionary defines ‘pontiff’ as ‘pope, high priest, bishop’. The full title actually means ‘Great High Priest’. The fact is, this title has already been claimed by the Lord Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews calls Him the “Great High Priest” (4:14, 8:1, 10:21). The thought being ‘Supreme Pontiff’ also includes the idea of ‘Chief Bishop’ or ‘Chief Shepherd’. Nevertheless even these titles have been given to the Lord by the apostle Peter (1 Peter 2:25, 5:4).

3… Vicar of Christ.

The title ‘vicar’ refers to a person being a representative or substitute. There is only one that fully represents Christ on this earth, not the pope of Rome, but the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit as “another Comforter” (John 14:16-17, 26, 15:26).

The pope of Rome indeed takes upon himself the names of blasphemy. Not only does his triple tiara teach that he is the king of Heaven, king of earth, and king of Hell, but he has also taken the titles of the Trinity as his own. The three titles, Holy Father, Supreme Pontiff, and Vicar of Christ belong respectively unto the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No wonder the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2:4 will sit in the temple claiming to be God.

Mother of Harlot and her influence upon world government in the last days
The “great whore” (:1), the “mother of harlots” (:5) is said to sit “upon many waters” (:1). This indicates that she will have control over many people on the earth (:15). We already know that Rome has the hearts and minds of millions of people world-wide, but it seems that one day the political side of ‘Babylon’ will increase to the extent that world leaders will come under her power and authority (:2). With “one mind” world political leaders will give their power, strength, and sovereignty over to the Vatican (:13). The power they think they will have under a united government (Parliament of Europe) will disappear when they sell out to the Beast System. The Roman Catholic Church will be a vehicle that the Antichrist will use during the Last Days to gather together the both the political and religious leaders of the world under his authority. Maybe the great wealth of the Harlot will entice the leaders to come under her authority.